Tilak Varma run out after lapse of concentration in Indore during third T20I

Tilak Varma was run out after a lapse of concentration during India’s third T20I against the West Indies in Indore on October 11, 2026, ending a 28 off 16-ball innings that included four boundaries. The dismissal followed a bizarre sequence in which the ball was stopped short of the rope and quickly returned to play.

The incident began when Gudakesh Motie bowled a low full toss that Axar Patel flicked toward deep backward square leg and Kamil Pooran sprinted across, diving to prevent the boundary and pushing the ball back into the field. Believing the ball had gone for four, Axar and Tilak completed a single and exchanged glove punches in the middle of the pitch while the ball remained live. Axar managed to ground his bat at the non-striker’s end as Shai Hope attempted a run-out, but Tilak stayed outside his crease and was left exposed. The ball was relayed to Motie, who broke the stumps at the bowler’s end; the third umpire reviewed the play, confirmed Pooran had stopped the ball from reaching the boundary and ruled Tilak run out.

India had made a fast start, racing to 87/1 in the powerplay as Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan attacked the bowling. Abhishek scored 69 off 30 balls and reached his half-century in 18 deliveries, while Ishan contributed 37 off 18.

The momentum shifted sharply thereafter when Roston Chase dismissed Ishan by stumping and then Shreyas Iyer was trapped lbw for one. Abhishek departed after mistiming a pull off Shamar Springer to finish on 69, and India lost three wickets for nine runs in a span of 10 balls.

Naman Dhir briefly raised the run rate with a six but was out for 10, and Nitish Kumar Reddy made 21 off 14 before departing. Axar Patel added 20 before falling to another run-out, Arshdeep Singh scored 11, and Prince Yadav struck three boundaries in the final over to provide a late boost.

India eventually finished at 223, losing their last nine wickets after a sensational start. What had looked like a total well beyond 250 turned into a more modest 224-run target, as the West Indies bowlers capitalised on India's middle-order collapse.

The West Indies were set a 224-run target to chase in the third T20I.